Aurora, ON – At its June 30 Board meeting, York Region District School Board approved a balanced 2020-21 budget of $1,571,525,000.00.
“We are pleased to present the budget for the upcoming school year,” said Chair of the Board Juanita Nathan. “We are grateful to our community who participated in our budget consultation process. This budget will demonstrate our dedication to the continued success of all of our students, with a vision for the future. We believe this budget represents a fair allocation of resources for all Board initiatives.”
"As we navigate through this pandemic, we remain in a strong financial position," said Trustee and Budget Committee Chair David Sherman. "In planning for the year ahead, we have incorporated public input from over 7,000 parents, students and community members and have prioritized front line resources for our students, while remaining fiscally accountable to the taxpayer.
“The 2020-2021 Budget builds on the YRDSB’s foundation of financial stability,”said Chief Financial Officer Vidyia Maharaj.
“Our trustees and staff have worked incredibly hard to develop this budget during uncertain and challenging times,” said Director of Education Louise Sirisko. “We are very proud of their dedication and commitment and we look forward to the year ahead focused on providing safe and engaging learning opportunities for our students.”
Highlights of the 2020-21 budget include:
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Additional special education supports to provide additional educational assistants.
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Additional support for the activities of the York Region President’s Council and to increase student voice.
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Two term positions for graduation coaches to mirror and supplement the Ministry of Education funding initiative
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Three additional elementary vice-principal positions
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Approximately 15 new transportation routes to support program and enrolment changes
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Transportation increases due to bell time changes
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The Board uses the Ontario School Boards Insurance Exchange (OSBIE) as its property and liability insurer and now recognizes the full annual cost of the insurance premium at a cost of $1.2M
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Information Technology software and licensing fees budgets increased to reflect actual annual costs
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Emergency Maintenance Repairs budget has been restored to its normal annual levels at a cost of $5M to more closely reflect the cost to keep buildings in a state of good repair
Currently, York Region District School Board is the third largest school district in Ontario with over 127,000 students in 178 elementary schools and 33 secondary schools. York Region students consistently perform above average in provincial testing and the Board is one of the top achievers in Ontario. For more information about York Region District School Board, please visit the Board website and follow @YRDSB on Twitter.
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